Slang Editorial :: Never Underestimate The Value Of A Holla'

Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Nearly Lost You (Not Really)

Screaming Trees, circa late 80s

So, on the heels of coming to home to the tailend of an Alex Doorknobs screening of Singles last night and reading his subsequent Knoblr post this morning on the film's music, I went ahead and d/l'd the OST today and man, what a rad trip that's been.

Among the sort-of-forgotten early 90s Seattle-ish nuggets are tracks by Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, and especially Screaming Trees, Smashing Pumpkins and Paul Westerberg. Tunes by the latter troika comprise some truly wonderful shit that more or less no longer existed to me. Four random thoughts:

1) In 2009 there can be no doubt that Mudhoney at their peak were far away the best, most tasteful, and least dated of all bands who ruled Seattle in the late 90s. Their tracks today still sound like beautiful raw bits of beautiful garage, while most of their peers even when sounding good are still unavoidably time-stamped.

2) It's fucking sad to hear a Smashing Pumpkins song so good as to remind of the point where the mere sound of Corgan's voice didn't make me feel depressed. I used to love this band so much--Siamese Dream "spoke to me", of course--but in a way that few people have, I have been so alienated by the terribleness of Billy Corgan's humanity and post '96 music that I simply cannot stomach the man anymore. Anyway, I am enjoying "Drown" now. (Though i must note that the intro REALLY sounds like the intro to Collective Soul's "Shine". Seriously!!!)

3) I REALLY need to finally listen to some Paul Westerberg solo records. For whatever reason I have put off doing this forever and ever, which is crazy given the degree to which I love the Replacements and to which my friends have attempted to literally shove PW's solos in my face. I'm sorry bros, but I swear to god I will finally get around on this.

4) Screaming Trees. Ahh, yes. I LOVED THIS RECORD. SO MUCH. Listening to "Nearly Lost You", I can only think of being 12 and riding the ski lift on a Friday and listening to a tape of the record I made from a local Episcopalian youth minister (long story) on my walkman while I smoked secreted cigarettes and sipping 'rents-swiped road sodas. Ahh the days of fucking youth, how good they were. I miss them so.

LISTEN:

Screaming Trees - "I Nearly Lost You"

Paul Westerberg - "Dyslexic Heart"

Smashing Pumpkins - "Drown"

Labels: loved sounds, memories, mp3, music, old flames, v